Panthers-49ers grades

The Panthers' Luke Kuechly tackles the 49ers' Frank Gore on Sunday.

John Clark/Halifax Media Services

By Richard Walker

Published: Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 06:02 PM.

RUN OFFENSE: Certainly, the short yardage failures in the first half were the big story, but they also were an example of game-long struggles. The conventional rushing attack was abysmal as Mike Tolbert and DeAngelo Williams combined for 13 carries for 33 yards. Yes, the 49ers rank fourth in the NFL in rushing defense, but 93 yards on 24 carries won’t win many playoff games – and certainly didn’t on Sunday. Grade: D

PASS OFFENSE: Newton’s numbers weren’t bad – 16 of 25 for 267 yards and one touchdown – but the two pass interceptions were killers and the five quarterback sacks seemed to make all pass play-calling a bit uneasy. Grade: C-

RUN DEFENSE: To be fair, the Panthers rush defense set the tone early by limiting San Francisco without a rushing first down in the opening half. But the 49ers notched five rushing first downs in the second half. And not only did they finish with 126 yards on 34 carries, but they effectively kept the ball away from Carolina. Grade: C

PASS DEFENSE: Before the season had ever started Carolina’s defensive game plan was to mask the lack of experience and talent in the secondary through a ferocious pass rush. While they did force Colin Kaepernick to scramble, they sacked him only once (for seven yards) and his scrambling ability showed on the game’s biggest play – the 1-yard TD pass to Vernon Davis that was first ruled an incompletion and later ruled a catch that put the 49ers ahead for good. Grade: B-

RUN OFFENSE: Certainly, the short yardage failures in the first half were the big story, but they also were an example of game-long struggles. The conventional rushing attack was abysmal as Mike Tolbert and DeAngelo Williams combined for 13 carries for 33 yards. Yes, the 49ers rank fourth in the NFL in rushing defense, but 93 yards on 24 carries won’t win many playoff games – and certainly didn’t on Sunday. Grade: D

PASS OFFENSE: Newton’s numbers weren’t bad – 16 of 25 for 267 yards and one touchdown – but the two pass interceptions were killers and the five quarterback sacks seemed to make all pass play-calling a bit uneasy. Grade: C-

RUN DEFENSE: To be fair, the Panthers rush defense set the tone early by limiting San Francisco without a rushing first down in the opening half. But the 49ers notched five rushing first downs in the second half. And not only did they finish with 126 yards on 34 carries, but they effectively kept the ball away from Carolina. Grade: C

PASS DEFENSE: Before the season had ever started Carolina’s defensive game plan was to mask the lack of experience and talent in the secondary through a ferocious pass rush. While they did force Colin Kaepernick to scramble, they sacked him only once (for seven yards) and his scrambling ability showed on the game’s biggest play – the 1-yard TD pass to Vernon Davis that was first ruled an incompletion and later ruled a catch that put the 49ers ahead for good. Grade: B-

SPECIAL TEAMS: Ted Ginn, Jr. returned three kickoffs for 62 yards and two punts for 27 yards (one that set up Carolina’s lone touchdown). Panthers kickers negated any special teams for the 49ers with three touchbacks and fair catches of both of their punts. Grade: A

COACHING: The “Riverboat Ron” nickname came after coach Ron Rivera forsook gambles early in the year and eventually allowed him to be one of the league’s best on fourth-down plays – 10 of 13. But his team was unable to pick up short yardage or, in the second half, get San Francisco off the field – two qualities that ultimately cost Carolina its first playoff victory since January 2006. Grade: C